The Firebird
The Firebird is a ballet. The libretto and choreography were composed by Michel Fokine. The story of the ballet is based on a Russian fairy tale. The music was composed by Igor Stravinsky. It was Stravinsky's first ballet score. The Firebird was first performed by the Ballets Russes in Paris at the Théâtre National de l'Opéra on 25 June 1910. Anna Pavlova had been asked to create the role of the Firebird. She thought Stravinsky's music incomprehensible and declined. The role went to Tamara Karsavina. The ballet has seen several revivals. It is also known by its French title L'Oiseau de Feu.
| The Firebird | |
|---|---|
 Design by Bakst for the Firebird | |
| Choreographed by | Michel Fokine |
| Composed by | Igor Stravinsky |
| Libretto by | Michel Fokine |
| Based on | Russian fairy tale |
| Date of premiere | 25 June 1910 |
| Place of premiere | Théâtre National de l'Opéra Paris |
| Original ballet company | Ballets Russes |
| Characters | Firebird Prince Ivan Tsarevna Kastchei the Immortal Captive Princesses Monsters |
| Designs by | Alexandre Golovine Léon Bakst (costumes for the Firebird and the Tsarevna) |
| Setting | Russia Fairy tale times |
| Created for | Tamara Karsavina |
| Genre | Fanstasy |
| Type | Classical |
Story
Prince Ivan ventures into the garden of the evil Kashchei. He catches the magical Firebird. She promises to aid the Prince whenever he needs help if he will release her. He takes a magic feather from the bird's tail, then releases her.
Twelve princesses with the Tsarevna (daughter of the Tsar) dance. All are in the power of the evil sourcerer Kashchei. Prince Ivan falls in love with the Tsarevna. He asks Kashchei whether he can marry her. Kashchei is angry and sends his monsters after the Prince. Kashchei is about to turn him to stone, when the Prince waves the feather. The Firebird appears, and comes to the Prince’s rescue. She casts a spell on the monsters. They fall asleep. The Firebird tells the Prince that Kashchei’s soul lies in an egg. The Prince smashes the egg. Kashchei loses his power, the monsters, and his palace. The Prince marries the Tsarevna.
Revivals
The ballet was revived in Britain in 1954 with costumes and sets by Natalia Gontcharova. Margot Fonteyn starred as the Firebird, Michael Somes as the Prince, Frederick Ashton as Kastchei, and Svetlana Beriosova as the Tsarevna. This production played the Metropolitan Opera House in September 1955 with the same principals.
George Balanchine staged his version of the work with the New York City Ballet at the City Center in 1949 with designs by Marc Chagall. Maria Tallchief danced the Firebird. Balanchine revised his version in 1970 in conjunction with Jerome Robbins. Robbins handled the group scenes. Chagall revised his designs for the production.
Maurice Béjart choreographd an abstract production for the Paris Opéra in 1970. He believed the traditional fairy tale production was impossible to present on the modern stage. He cast a danseur in the title role. The cast wore denim.
References
- Balanchine, George with Francis Mason. 1975. 101 Stories of the Great Ballets. Anchor Books. pp. 170-80.
- Mariinsky Ballet. 2008. Stravinsky and the Ballets Russes. BelAir Classiques. (BAC041; liner notes).